Volume LXII • Senior Edition • June 2018 • McLean High School • thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander
SENIOR EDITION
Volume LXII • Senior Edition • June 2018 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101
Letter from the Senior Editors Dear Seniors, Yeet! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were writing our first letter to you all back in October, and now we’re just days away from graduation. It has been an honor serving you all throughout the year. Thank you for reading The Highlander—we’d be nothing without our readers. This year, we’ve covered many serious issues that resonate throughout the school community: racism, gun violence, sexual harassment and more. We thank you for your engaged discussion about these topics and for your support of our journalists. Without your interviews and stories, we would not be able to produce our magazine. The Class of 2018 has made an incredible mark on McLean, touching all aspects of student life: academics, athletics, extracurriculars and beyond. We hope this final issue can accurately reflect the amazing accomplishments and stories of our senior class. Be sure to read about our graduation speaker Charles Bolden, the former Administrator of NASA, and hear from our senior class sponsors and student graduation speaker. Don’t forget to check out our famed college map, which spans a whopping four pages. We wish everyone the best of luck in their future endeavors, and we can’t wait to see what great things this special senior class goes on to do in the future! Congratulations, Colin Edson, Bryan Chung & Siddarth Shankar
CONTENTS 3
Graduation speaker Charles Bolden
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Q&A with class sponsors and student graduation speaker
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Senior timeline: 2014-2018
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The Highlander senior staff bios
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Faculty advice for seniors
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Senior words of wisdom
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Where seniors see themselves in 10 years
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Senior highs & lows
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Seniors glow up
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From crib to college
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Humor: An Ode to Angus
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Oscars: Class of 2018 edition
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Senior athletic commits
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College map
Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate. To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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Charles Bolden to speak at graduation
Former Administrator of NASA to deliver commencement speech | COLIN EDSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF |
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ormer Administrator of NASA under Barack Obama, Charles Bolden, will be this year’s graduation speaker. Bolden served as the 12th Administrator of NASA and was the first African American to do so. He will be speaking on June 8 at DAR Constitution Hall to the Class of 2018. His distinguished career also includes over 30 years in the United States Marine Corps along with 14 years as a NASA astronaut, where he traveled to space four times, accruing over 600 hours in space. Principal Ellen Reilly felt confident that Bolden would make an inspirational graduation speaker. “I knew he would be good purely based off of his life experiences... How many other people can say they have been to space?” Reilly said. Reilly was able to reach out to him with the help of the class representatives.
“You all have done something that is noteworthy and you should take pride in it.” -Graduation speaker Charles Bolden “I reached out to him, but Marshall Pratt suggested to me that he would be a good speaker,” Reilly said. For those reading about him, it may be no surprise that Bolden was given the offer of being the graduation speaker, but due to his humility, his reaction was quite the opposite. “[When I found out], I was pretty startled because there are a lot of kids who have parents, relatives or friends that do really phenomenal things,” Bolden said. “I was kind of thinking that that would be the last thing that anybody would think about would be to invite me to speak to the graduating class of McLean.” Unlike some graduating students, Bolden knew for certain what his next step was going to be after he graduated. He was going to go to the Naval Academy. What he did not know was that his career path was going to
take a drastic turn and put him in the air as a pilot and in the Marine Corps, two things he told himself he would not do. “I was a failure in following my goals and aspirations coming out of high school. When I graduated from high school. The one thing I knew was that I wanted to go to the Naval Academy,” Bolden said. “My goal was to go to the Naval Academy, become a member of the underwater demolitions team and then serve for five years, get out, go back to graduate school, get a master’s in electrical engineering and go make money. That was my long-term plan coming out of high school and I got to do none of that.” While his life did not take the path he initially planned out, Bolden noted how crucial it was to embrace the influential people in his life. “My mother and father were the very biggest and earliest influences on my life because they were great parents, but even more importantly, they were tremendous educators,” Bolden said. Bolden advises students to remind themselves of the advice he gave to himself when he was in high school. “Set your goals high and really continue to pursue them unless you are absolutely convinced that your goal has changed, like mine did, before I even got out of college,” Bolden said. Bolden’s positive attitude is something he hopes will get through to graduating students. With his speech, he wants to ensure that the students don’t leave high school intimidated by what their future may hold. “Whenever I have the opportunity to talk to a graduating class, whether it’s kindergarten, junior high, high school or college...I want to help you all leave school with a positive outlook on life and recognizing the fact that you’re leaving an environment where you form friendships that could stay with you forever,” Bolden said. “It is really critical to maintain the
Image obtained via NASA under public domain Page design & image modification by Bryan Chung
friendships that you have established over your period of time.” Along with the theme of positivity, Bolden has included central messages into his speech that he hopes to convey to the students. “One of your classmates relayed to me that you all are cool and you’re all stars. That is one of the messages that I am going to deliver...that all of you are stars in your own right,” Bolden said. “Everybody has some claim to fame, some of them may be smaller than others, at least in the minds of some people, but you all have done something that is noteworthy and you should take pride in it.”
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 3
Questions & Answers with SBridget enior Class Sponsors Donoghue Elise Emmons English teacher
English teacher
What was the best part about being a class sponsor? E: I think the best part of being a class sponsor was getting to know more students that I’ve never had before, so the Class of 2018, you know, outside of my few classes. What is one of your best memories of being class sponsor? E: Probably the reward of going to prom and like seeing everything kinda come into fruition, after planning it, and after all the stress of it, and then going there and seeing it all set up... It was a success. What is something that all high schoolers look stupid doing? E: Probably really extravagant promposals. D: All these new dance crazes...like dabbing all the time. What was your best memory from high school? D: Probably graduation, just ‘cause it’s a big accomplishment and it was a lot of fun. We graduated in the Patriot Center, so it was huge. It was really awesome. What trend would you bring back from your teen years? D: If we’re talking about like early teens, or like middle school, the slap bracelets were awesome, and then they were banned from school, but everyone had them, and it was like, you had to have a slap bracelet to be cool, so those were fun What is the best compliment you’ve ever received as a teacher? D: Someone told me I was the best English teacher they had…but they were in ninth grade, so they really haven’t had that many English teachers, so I don’t know if that counts. 4 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Student Graduation Speaker Sidnea Strelser
How did you react when you found out you were chosen to be student graduation speaker? I was pretty happy. I didn’t really expect to get picked so it was a really big surprise. What message are you hoping to convey to the students? The message of my speech basically is that despite the fact that our time in high school was so stressful, we did get a lot out of it and that we didn’t really realize it at the time but all those stressful situations that we were put into, when we got pushed to our limit, it was all for a reason... It was to prepare us for the real world. Are you nervous for your speech? I’m not really the person who gets too nervous in advance—I get nervous right before it happens. I know that right before I go out and give the speech I am going to be super nervous, but right now I am not that nervous. What job would you be bad at? I would probably be a really bad third grade teacher. I have zero control over little kids. They just run wild. What is the best joke you know? A ham sandwich walks into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender says, “Sorry, we don’t serve food here.” Trend you would bring back from elementary school? Silly bands. Those were so cool. I had a stack of them all the way up to my elbow. Songs you have memorized all the words to? There’s probably too many to count, but a couple that stick out are “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama and “Gold Digger” by Kanye West.
Reporting by Colin Edson Page design by Bryan Chung
CLASS OF 2018 TIMELINE
ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE In the summer of 2014, we all dumped giant buckets of ice water on each others’ heads... It was crazy. FIRST FOOTBALL GAME Our first real chance to be a Highlander. We quickly learned the strict social hierarchy of the bleachers. FIRST HOMECOMING The askings, the rejections, the planning, realizing that planning should always be left to the girls, the corsages, the dinner, realizing that you are blowing all the money you made over the summer in one night. EBOLA We all thought The Walking Dead would happen at any moment!
COMMON APP They said get it done over the summer...but no one listened.
BOMB THREAT It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. SNOWZILLA An apocalyptic storm that buried the DMV in two feet of snow. AP WORLD A class that made many a student have mental breakdowns and crushed the dreams of many more. WATCH ME WHIP Our ears bled from the amount of times we heard this song. HBO KILLS JON SNOW Why...
ACT/SAT STRESS When you try your best, but you don’t succeed. CATAPULT PROJECT Plagued many physics students; most of ours functioned...most... WATER BOTTLE FLIPPING We occupied our time and decreased our stress flipping plastic bottles everywhere. MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE That girl is a real crowd pleaser.
ACCEPTANCES/ REJECTIONS Moments of joy, moments of sadness and finally relief from three years of stress. CRIPPLING SENIORITIS Be happy, guys! Getting this done was no easy feat. WALKOUTS Actually having a reasonable excuse to leave school. SASHA OBAMA If you know...you know.
FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE JUNIOR SENIOR Reporting by Sam Gollob Photos by The Highlander staff
Page design by Bryan Chung
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 5
Rustin Abedi
Colin Edson
“Best Birthday Party Thrower”
“Mr. ‘Let's Gooo’”
Managing Editor
Editor-in-Chief
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es, I chose to write a senior bio for the antagonist of the senior class. I am still unsure of how he secured such a reputation but it is probably because he was a bit too confident about winning senior assassin and everybody was just jealous of the unmatched potential he had going into the game. Although he went out in the first season without even getting his first target, he managed to elude the sharpshooting of Cayla Davis (the water never actually got on him, I was there) and wiggle his way out of one of the most controversial court cases in the history of the United States: Davis & McArthur v. Abedi & Kato. As great as that was, I do believe his legacy lives elsewhere... #iykyk. I met the man freshman year when we had the same journalism class. Honestly, I did not start talking to him until halfway through the year. His ravishing looks and dapper style were all quite intimidating (see page 17). I really warmed up to him when he put me on his back sophomore year and carried me through five news articles. I remember writing all five...but only because he told me what to write. All thanks to Rustin, I was able to garner the “future editor-in-chief ” reputation and cruise. The one thing I regret about our friendship is that I missed out on his party for his 18th birthday. He told me it was one of his best birthday parties ever. I even heard that Sasha Obama showed up. For those of you who don’t know, Rustin is actually one of the most focused and driven people around. His ability to go for what he wants is nonpareil; it is a quality that I have always been envious of. Unseemingly so, he is laid back when he is not hard at work and always appreciative of my humor. Parting ways will be tough, but I will always remember where we started. He will find plentiful return from his successes as a doctor in the future, but for now, William & Mary is more than lucky to have him.
fter signing up for Journalism 1 my freshman year, I had no idea how the next several years would turn out. Looking back, the experiences in the class and with the program could not have been as momentous as they were without Colin Edson. Whether it was sprinting to Ledo’s to grab pizza for late nights, scrambling last minute to find sources for an article or temporarily losing his shoe in order to grab a photo for his Pokémon Go article, Colin has done it all for The Highlander. Introducing himself as “Kicking Kevin” our freshman year in an icebreaker game, the 6’4” extraordinaire, although much shorter back then, has definitely kicked down all possible obstacles to reach this point. Whether it was dribbling a soccer ball or pulling a literal all-nighter to finish the bridge project, Colin has seen and dealt with everything, all while leading the way as one of the most dedicated staff members for The Highlander. There was no task that he could not accomplish to reach this point. Continuing the tradition of excellence for the newsmagazine is no easy task, and doing so this year only speaks volumes to the staff and particularly Colin, who led the way as one of the editors-inchief. As the friendly and approachable person he is, the man helped anyone who asked. This happened even if Colin was busy writing two or three articles an issue, a workload far more daunting than what most journalists take on. Journalism is one of many places where Colin has led the way. Whether as a varsity soccer captain, a Big Mac executive or as an editor-in-chief of The Highlander newsmagazine, the man is a natural leader. Wherever life takes Colin (next year it happens to be the University of California, San Diego), his mix of charisma and likability in addition to his deep care and appreciation for The Highlander will drive him to success for the rest of his life.
-Colin Edson
-Rustin Abedi JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 7
Siddarth Shankar: Editor-in-Chief
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“Sid the Snake”
rom the day I entered Ms. Wagoner’s first period English 9 Honors class to the governor’s school at Radford University last summer, I’ve spent quite a lot of time knowing Siddarth, AKA Sid. With all the time we shared, Sid has become one of my closest friends in McLean, and I hope to prolong our friendship even after he goes off to college. Beginning in sophomore year when Sid joined the staff of The Highlander, our friendship began to accelerate. The hours that we spent at the journalism room gave me a chance to really understand him as a person. He is not only a talented student, but a persistent human being. Despite joining the newsmagazine staff a year late, Sid has been a great addition to the magazine. Based on my 4.2 years as a part of journalism, he has been one of the most dedicated and superb editors-in-chief of The Highlander newsmagazine. My passion to succeed in not only athletics but also academics really thrived thanks to Sid. Starting from my late night Facebook messages about APUSH tests to our time at governor’s school, Sid, regardless of the circumstance, was always willing to help me. His objective personality and realistic advice always manage to bring me peace. I have learned a lot from Sid. His positive persona motivates me to be a better person every day. The summer that I spent with him at Radford University gave me a valuable time to learn more about him—most notably, his amazing typing speed despite his unorthodox style. I know for sure that he will succeed in whatever he chooses to do. Yale made a smart decision by admitting Sid. -Bryan Chung
Bryan Chung: Editor-in-Chief
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hen I entered 9th grade English on the first day of school in 2014, I didn’t expect to meet someone who would become one of my closest friends: Bryan Chung. Relegated to different corners of the classroom, our most meaningful interaction was this simple inscription in my yearbook: “Hi Siddarth, I wished we could be better friends, but we had not much conversation. I hope next year has a chance for us to be more closer.” Come sophomore and junior year, we seemed to fulfill this prophecy. I quickly became accustomed to Bryan’s weird but endearing habits. Not only does he somehow sleep in most classes (and still do well), but he also possesses a magnetic and enthusiastic personality. At our journalism late nights, he never failed to brighten the mood of the room. Bryan is someone who puts his all into everything he does. He is the true definition of a Renaissance man—he is both an athletic and an academic super star. I can’t help but smile when I think about his happiness after he scored his first varsity football touchdown, or the fact that he was nominated for over 10 percent of the awards at our statewide journalism competition. Bryan, thank you for teaching me basically everything I know about design. Thank you for always being there for my late night emergencies. Thank you for being my friend at all of our Starbucks study sessions. And most importantly, thank you for being such an influential friend and fellow EIC. I have shared so many laughs, angry vents, consolations, failures, successes and, let’s not forget, countless weeks of late nights with Bryan, and I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else. If I have one regret, it’s the fact that we weren’t friends even sooner. I can’t wait to see the great things he does both on and off the field at Washington and Lee. I know that I, and The Highlander, will greatly miss him. -Siddarth Shankar 6 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
“White Space Dictator”
Jessie Friedman:
Opinions Editor & Web EIC
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Josh Leong: Design Editor
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sk anyone what the most important role in journalism is, and you’ll get one answer: Website Editor-inChief! Okay, maybe not—but that’s never stopped Jessie from making her work vibrant, disciplined and selfless. She owned that title and she was proud of it. Perhaps that’s a tribute to her character, because for the single year I’ve been in journalism, I’ve seen that the heart Jessie holds is one that cannot cease to care. When you’re down, she won’t hesitate to ask if you’re okay. And when you’re happy, she’s the first to smile with you. To laugh, to share joy and to embrace me as a friend will never be lost on me—and to UVA and the world, she will make her mark. I’ll always be grateful for the first article we wrote together, and in the same way, excited for what her future has in store! -Josh Leong
lthough this was Josh’s first year in journalism, his influence has unequivocally permeated The Highlander. Josh’s transition from a first-year staffer to a design editor was nothing short of spectacular to witness. Josh may have started this year with me teaching him the basics of InDesign, but we ended the year with him instructing me how to use the program. Despite working on his award-winning videos for most of journalism, he still managed to stay ahead on deadlines and give Bryan a much-needed break from infographic making. In fact, this multitalented reporter, photographer and design editor also happened to be a supportive friend. I am certain that Josh’s creative spirit will take him far in the movie industry. -Jessie Friedman
Justin Kim:
Conor Zeya:
“Mac ‘n Cheese Mom”
A&E Editor “Future Roger Ebert”
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ustin Kim: the man, the myth, the legend. Words cannot describe his reviewwriting prowess. He chugs 7,000 word reviews out like a machine, and it’s a marvel to watch. I’ve been amazed by his quick wit and comprehensive detail in every review. It’s hard to believe he can do it all while also being asleep throughout the entirety of class, but somehow he makes it work and makes it look easy. Even though he was technically “assigned” to write about our show AP Theatre, the cheerleading he did for it from day one to the end was an immense motivator and the sign of a true friend. I’m glad Justin watches out for the mental breakdowns that Anya and I have at least twice a week (it’s an incredible burden and he handles it deftly), and I’m glad he doesn’t tear our every article to shreds even when we certainly deserve it. Most importantly, I’m glad he was nice to a journalism newcomer who knew nothing coming into the class. We’ve sat together the whole year and in that period Justin has been a tremendous help, a great person to spitball ideas with and a constant source of hilarity and support. I wish him well at Johns Hopkins and know that his future holds great things. -Haley Rose
“The Next Steven Spielberg”
A&E Editor
“El Chef”
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on’t let his blank facial expressions fool you; Conor Zeya might be the most abstract and creative person you’ll ever come across. His serious persona is just the cover to his artistic and imaginative mind. Working with the quiet hum of a BMW engine, able to turn it on and off when he sees fit. Some classes will produce nothing but a passion for a new Fortnite update, but other classes will produce some of the most unique and beautiful prose since F. Scott Fitzgerald. Not only does Conor posess the skills of linking words, similar to how a machine effortlessly makes a steel chain, Conor produces music that kisses your eardrums like your grandmother kisses you after she hasn’t seen you since last Christmas. The melody plays like that aforementioned kiss, while the 808 drum in the background gives you the jolt to rock your brain in your cranium, giving you a mild concussion. Although Conor’s physical form may never return to McLean, his spiritual legacy will endure for generations. He is a machine, and machines never die. -Jude Sadeq JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 9
Ed Walters:
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y one constant for the past four years of journalism has been Ed Walters. The schedule makers at MHS must love us because they were kind enough to put us in the same class each year. Sports Editor Ed has teased me relentlessly over the years, but he has also made me laugh more than anyone else. Ed is the kind "Crust-buster" of guy you always want in your corner. He has been a tremendous support for me in every aspect, most recently by delivering an inspiring pep talk that convinced me to ask a certain girl to prom (#GodsPlan). Ed has done more for me in journalism than anyone else, and I’ve been grateful to have him as my partner in crime. Ed always puts his whole heart into his efforts, whether it be drawing arctic foxes or recording the pH of every water fountain in the school for an article. No matter where he goes in life, I’m confident that Ed’s loyalty and heart will bring him success and happiness. -Jackson Payne
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n kindergarten Ed was my best friend and, at the time, I thought we would remain as best friends, but the next year, apparently he had to be fancy and join the French immersion program. That was the last time we spoke until reuniting in Journalism 1. The Ed I reunited with was kind of a jerk. He criticized everyone’s writing and always had something snarky to say. But Ed is more than a jerk (in a good way); he is my best friend and the glue that has kept our friend group all together. Without Ed, I don’t know if we would all have stayed in journalism. Even though he won’t admit it, he’s a people person. -Haru Kato
Haru Kato:
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first met Haru Kato in second grade, where we played kickball during recess every day. When we were reunited seven years later, he hadn’t grown a single inch. Haru has a unique gift to take any situation, no matter how boring it may be, and somehow turn it into a blast. Reporter Some of my fondest memories with Haru include messing around with our senior heroes David Kagan and Peter "Super EIC" Morell during sophomore year, recording an a capella version of “Mr. Brightside” and protesting his unjust murder during senior assassin. Haru’s persistent positivity and talent to make the best of every situation will go a long way at JMU. I envy his future classmates that will get his infectious laugh for the next four years. -Jackson Payne
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y first memory of Haru is him crying after my mom gave him a Thin Mint in kindergarten. I’m not sure what prompted him to cry over a Girl Scout cookie, but I think it embodies his personality perfectly. Nobody knows why Haru does anything, but it’s always going to be hilarious. Whether we were taping girls’ hair to desks in English or working in the world famous KGRC Snack Shack™, it was always a good time with Haru. While he may have been the worst writer in the history of The Highlander, Haru made up for it with his energy and design skills. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love Haru and I know he’ll end up doing something amazing. -Ed Walters
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hen I first met Jackson he was a rowdy, goofy second grader I found to be too much to handle. After seven long years, I reunited with Jackson freshman year. He was taller, but still too much to handle. Managing Editor Even as a senior, Jackson’s high energy and unpredictable movements can be hard to deal with, but "Most Likely to be Married that is what makes him a great journalist. His energy and passion allows him to be outgoing and fearless Before Graduating College" for interviews. Jackson is a really nice guy who you can always get help from, but Jackson as a journalist is one cocky individual. He once said “I’m the most accomplished journalist applying to BYU this year,” and I can confidently say he’s probably right. The articles that Jackson writes are way beyond my ability and you can sense his passion in every word. I am really going to miss my Mormon sweetheart. Even if all the Mormon girls at BYU friendzone you, just know that you’ll always have special place in my heart. -Haru Kato
Jackson Payne:
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hen I first met Jackson in Journalism 1, I remember wondering what a can opener was doing in my class. A couple years of puberty and braces later, I can confidently say Jackson has more Snapchat streaks with girls than the rest of the school combined. When he wasn’t too busy being friendzoned, Jackson was one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. Freshman year me could’ve never imagined how much Jackson would mean to me. He’s never failed to cheer me up when I was feeling down, never failed to bring a smile to my face with his stupid jokes and most importantly, never failed to give me free Zinga whenever he was working. BYU is getting a good one; I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for my favorite Mormon. -Ed Walters 8 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Michael Redding This was my first year taking journalism and Mike made it an unforgettable experience. With his daily “Esketit,” Mike made journalism more enjoyable each step of the way. He would always know how to cheer someone up even in the most simple ways. I have never seen anyone so determined when it came to articles, as Mike displayed his varsity statistician talents every day and was never a single day late for a deadline, setting the standard for what it means to be in journalism. I am glad I had a great mentor to guide me through my first year of journalism. -Sean Senft
Haley Rose The fact that she was sitting next to me probably helped, but I get the hunch that I would have grown to know and appreciate the quiet yet quirky personality that was Haley Rose. It was just that she was always open to what you had to say, while having a bubbling pot of ideas in her head. Sharing about our lives, joking around with others...it wasn’t a dramatic time, but it was a genuinely good time. Yes, she is an amazing talent at stage acting, and I wish that I had seen more plays just to see her stellar performances. But long before then, I knew her as a person that I always could strike up a conversation with and have fun. See, writing about her even managed to pull me briefly away from my perpetual cynicism. - Justin Kim
Emma Higbee Emma switched into journalism earlier this year, and it immediately became her most stressful class. During late night weeks, she often called me on the verge of tears because she forgot how to create a text box or insert an image, and next year I will definitely miss helping her with those menial tasks. Although she lacks the basic computer skills necessary to being a productive asset of the staff, she always comes up with interesting topics to write about and somehow always finishes her article on time. BYU made a good decision in choosing her; they may never see a Mormon as devoted as her again (besides Jackson Payne). -Conor Zeya
Sean Senft
Sean has a keen instinct for finding a way to prevail through any situation. I’ve never met someone so calm and collected. When I freaked out about an article we had to write, he nonchalantly said, “Mike, we got this.” From my absence due to my head injury, I remember texting Sean and dreaming about coming back. This year would not be the same without him; when we enter grind mode in journalism, time disappears and, like in basketball, we enter a zone.
-Michael Redding
Jude Sadeq Despite her relatively few appearances, Jude has made journalism one of the best classes to go to. Her upbeat personality and bright white smile stands out most when her phone finally dies, or the week after she has broken it for the second, third or fourth time that year. While Jude has a reputation of being distracting, her good nature and sense of humor get all of us through a tough day of class after being berated by Ms. Benedict for not turning something in on time. Jude is always there to make everyone feel better, because, usually, she is in the same boat and is able to genuinely sympathize with you. -Jake Keating
Jake Keating When I first met Jake, he was walking around McLean with cornrows down to his shoulders. Although this first impression was a major red flag, I got to know him better this year and we’ve become close friends. Jake is a man of ambition. Whether it’s wanting to run for president, trying to plan a senior beach week in Bali or going to a casino in West Virginia on a school night, all of Jake’s ideas are lofty and bold. I know for a fact that no task is too arduous for him. He has the ability to set his mind on something and stop at nothing to achieve it. -Conor Zeya JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 11
Ryan Dahlseid
Although Ryan and I knew each other in middle school, it wasn’t until our freshman year broadcast journalism class that the two of us became great friends. Ryan and I were the only two freshmen in a mostly senior class, and we bonded over the challenge. I am so grateful to count Ryan as one of my closest friends. He is the type of guy who can make you laugh even if you are having the worst day. I know that he is going to take his incredible energy with him to the University of South Carolina and beyond. I am excited to see big things from you! -Sam Gollob
Pragya Dhungana
I could immediately relate to Pragya when she told me she was in journalism because there were no other courses available. Through journalism, however, we both learned to write and enjoy delving deeper into topics we would have otherwise dismissed if not given the opportunity to write about them. When we wrote an article together, I learned more about Pragya that led me to believe we were quite similar people. She had moved multiple times in her life like myself, and had to adjust to the many changes she consequently encountered. Her ability to do so with a language barrier was surely impressive, and I strongly believe she will succeed, wherever her life may take her. Good luck to you! -Jane Lee
Tommy Schilder I wish I was Tommy “Light Work” Schilder. Instead of socializing, I’d be studying and doing homework for six hours every day. Overcrowding was straight fire and so was his article about the freshman tennis players. That mentality will fit well in UCLA. I know he aspires to be like Tiger in his golf game and your “game.” I respect his work ethic, his kindness and his determination, all of which I don’t have. But there’s a side of you that most don’t know...you’re actually a jerk. When Mike came back from his concussion and told him that he bumped into someone, Tommy said, “Haha, that’s hilarious!” Tommy, U will C me in LA when ASU comes up and innovates the school. -Ross Oliver 10 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Sam Gollob I became friends with Sam in eighth grade, and he had the worst handeye coordination I’ve ever seen. Sam is an amazing athlete, but if you’ve ever seen him attempt a layup, you’d agree. We took broadcast journalism together freshman year, and since then, we’ve been best friends. This year, we went on adventures to uncover local urban myths and have stayed close despite Sam being the worst texter of all time. No matter how far life takes us, he will always be one of my best friends. -Ryan Dahlseid
Jane Lee There is an old saying in Tanzanian culture, “A wise person will always find a way.” I fervently believe this is true about Jane, an extremely passionate and hardworking student who is always ready to cover untold stories. You will recognize Jane as entertaining, jolly and helpful. This is her first year in journalism, but her writing skills would amaze anyone who reads her articles. She is a fearless, daring and outgoing person who looks to make friends with everyone she meets. Jane’s infectious smile can lighten anyone’s mood. Here’s to an adventurous girl! Thank you for being you. -Pragya Dhungana
Ross Oliver So where we droppin’ Ross? I loved Ross’s kneeling and Fortnite articles, as they are two pieces of admirable journalism. However, I was still eager to see him expand his horizons. While I don’t appreciate his hatred of the greatest golfer alive (Mr. Eldrick Woods of course), we shared in some hilarious moments. Ross’s brutally honest commentary on life, his integrity and his ranting capabilities are some of his best qualities. I will be forever jealous that Ross will be attending the top institution in the country in terms of innovative capability. Forks up, Rossiver! -Tommy Schilder
Words from the wise
Teachers and counselors give advice to graduates Laura Venos Career Center Specialist
Gregory Olcott School Counselor
“There are a ton of options when it comes to building your social life at college. Be sure to surround yourself with people who help you be your best self. Think about what times of day you are most productive and try to schedule to do your work during those times. Don’t forget to call your parents!”
“The name of a college on a bumper sticker shouldn’t define who you are as a person. Wherever you go, hard work, kindness and honesty will bring you success. Have fun! You have earned it and you deserve it! Don’t expect to have life figured out right after college. Take your time, continue to learn, and try new things. Also, go to class and don’t get in too much trouble.”
Annette Billingsley English Teacher
Jeffrey Brocketti Physics Teacher
“When traveling along the road of life, you can either look forward to see where you’re going or stare in the rear view mirror to see where you’ve been and wonder what could’ve been. Only one will successfully lead you to where you want to be. Just sit back and take everything in and enjoy it. You have your entire adult life to worry about things. Between now and college graduation, enjoy the waning moments of being a kid.”
Deborah You School Counselor
“Build your social capital—make friends, join clubs and have conversations with your peers. These people will be invaluable networking sources, especially as you look into employment. I also found that I learned the most from the conversations that I had with my peers and upperclassman friends.” 12 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
“Visit each professor during office hours at least one time at the beginning of the semester. This face-to-face interaction is very important, especially if you require his or her help later. Also, make sure you get the phone number of at least two different responsible people in each class so you can contact them if you miss a class.”
Dean Howarth Physics Teacher
“Remember, high school is free. It’s our way to make sure you don’t suck at things in the future. The days of ‘dream schools’ and ‘prestige’ are over! You need to get the most learning you can for the least amount of student loan debt. In a nutshell, most of you are screwed. If you spend your life figuring out how to game the system, the system will beat you. Start thinking for yourself.” Photos by Anna Brykczynski Reporting & page design by Pragya Dhungana & Jane Lee
Senior McWisdom Class of 2018 shares their high school insights | SEAN SENFT & MICHAEL REDDING REPORTERS |
Do as much as you can in terms of opportunities. It’s better to say you’ve done too much than not doing enough. -Cliff Lin
Establish good relationships with your teacher and counselor. These relationships will benefit you in the long run. -Laura Belvedere
Get to know your teachers and don’t stress too much. Everything always ends well. -Samara Elahi Take the first three years of high school seriously, so you can slack off senior year. -James Bradley
Stick to who you are, what you believe. Don’t recreate yourself to fit in. -Kylie Coffey
Have fun with it. Choose classes that Master the art of you’d enjoy and don’t procrastination. It’s worry so much. You’ll going to be very useful. end up wherever you’re -David Gartner meant to be. -Anna Sargent When you think you Make sure you find a Do your homework can’t do it or want to good friend group, a and study! Good give up, remember group of people you grades pay off. you’re on to greater can trust from the -Anna Karl things after. beginning. -Irissa Maneechai
-Dev Ghosh
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 13
Where will seniors be in 10 years? “I see myself living in a tiny apartment, working at a library and trying to write the next great American novel.” - Abby Comey
“Hopefully in 10 years, I’ll be out on an archaeological dig somewhere crazy, or maybe working as a researcher in a museum.” - Camille Richter
“Verified on Instagram.” - Reece Gerdes
“Right now I’m interested in going into medicine, so I guess working to become a doctor, specifically a pediatrician.” - Helena Hatanpaa
“I got a ROTC scholarship so no matter what I have to serve when I get out of college, but I plan to make a career out of it.” - Anno Kong
“I see myself in some sort of graduate program, living in a city apartment with a bunch of pugs.” - Emily Lachow
14 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
“Filthy rich on a boat.” - Caroline Brunner
“Hopefully working for a cool industry that I’m genuinely passionate about and maybe doesn’t even exist right now, or starting up my company.” - Philena Sun
“I see myself working with little kids, probably at a temple or Jewish organization, hopefully in a foreign country.” - Havi Carrillo-Klein
“I see myself doing research in possibly quantum, nano or anything of the physics sort.” - Austin Zhang
“I would love to be living in a city like DC and working in intelligence for a government agency like the CIA or NSA.” - Katy Medicherla
“Being in DC I might try to get in at the ground level of a political campaign, given that the 2028 campaign will be revving up.” - Jack Wilkerson
“Running the Maryland Table Tennis Center.” - Will Argabrite
“Serving as an officer in the U.S. army, hopefully flying helicopters.” - Marshall Pratt
“California on a beach eating steak off of models.” - Ted Miller
“I hope I’ll be happy and be helping people, living somewhere near mountains, and maybe finishing law school.” - Ellie Hall
“Regardless of where school takes me, music is something that I’m sure will remain a constant in my life. I see myself giving concerts in 10 years.” - Alejandro Galdo
“I have literally no idea if I’ll even be alive in 10 years.” - Carson Flickinger
Reporting by Jessie Friedman & Siddarth Shankar Page design by Jessie Friedman
“Relieving stress by petting the Stress Less dogs.” - Annie Williams
“Beating Langley on a walk-off in 9 innings.” - James Beahn
“Meeting Sasha Obama at a McLean banger.” - Nico Olmedo
“Playing basketball in my backyard during track practice.” - Jake Parker “Seeing my hard work paying off in DECA and MUN.” - Laith Samamreh “Doing my bridge project in 3 hours, and ending up being third best in the class.” - Musa Haji
“Being a tennis manager and playing in an exhibition doubles match against actual players.” - James Gao “Meeting Shannon Moloney for the first time.” - Marshall Pratt “Winning states in gymnastics junior year.” - Sam Simon
SENIOR HIGHS AND LOWS “Going 0-10 senior year for football.” - Ammar Abdelghany “Losing my Algebra 2 project in school.” - Shriansh Singh “My first senior assassin attempt not counting as a kill.” - Cayla Davis “Getting a 4/32 on an AP Human Geography test.” - Cat Scherer Page design by Bryan Chung Reporting by Ross Oliver & Tommy Schilder
“First day of school. I was extremely nervous because I knew no one.” - Jack Reed “Having to do Chemistry twice because of a concussion.” - Lauren Palombi “Failing my AP U.S. History final.” - Jessie Seppi
“Two words: white whale.” - Chris Clancy “Writing an essay when I had the flu, the day before I had to turn it in.” - Anno Kong JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 15
Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this year’s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.
Gold ($200+) Silver ($100+) The Zeya/O’Grady Family The Chung Family Debra Mastronardi The Siegel Family David & Michelle Senft Susan Donovan Bronze ($50+) Laura Przypyszny Hyun Jung Hwang Mi Ju Kim Susie & David French The Mandanas Family Brian Wilkerson Richard Keating Dorothy Schilder Brian Wilkerson The Manning Family Kim & Scott Hopkins The Roberts Family Blair Marshall Victoria Meuret Aurora Hong John Meuret In memory of Danielle Tooley Peter Stenzel If you would like to become a patron, please send a check to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Rd. McLean, VA 22101
GET THE HIGHLANDER EVERYWHERE YOU GO Add us on Snapchat mhshighlander Go to our website www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on Twitter MHSHighlander Like us on Facebook The Highlander Newsmagazine
SENIOR GLOW-UPS It’s crazy what four years of stress, procrastination, drama, sleepless nights and lasting friendships can do to people.
Rustin Abedi
Mia Barringer
Quinlen Brown
Emma Higbee
Shiraz Kunzel
Kimberley Lebowitz
Lorelei Legg
Riya Master
Michael May
Shannon Moloney
Jackson Payne
Maggie Perry
Will Poncy
Brett Richardson
Page design by Ryan Dahlseid
Conor Zeya
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 17
From crib to college
Guess the senior from their baby picture! | EMMA HIGBEE REPORTER |
3 2
1
6 5
4 Answers: 1. Natalie Cole 2. Evelyn Lee 3. Brett Richardson 4. Ben Mennitt 5. Anna Sargent 6. Khaled Abdelatey 7. Riya Master 8. Nour Khachemoune
18 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
7
8 Page design by Emma Higbee
An Ode to Angus
Haley Rose’s comprehensive guide to high school
As I spend my final weeks as a student at McLean, I reflect on my four long years here. Four years! Long enough to learn lessons that will last me a lifetime. Officially crowned as the senior class’s most dramatic girl, I firmly believe it would be a disservice not to impart these lessons upon my underlings. So, without further ado, I present everything I’ve learned in “An Ode to Angus: Haley Rose’s Comprehensive Guide to Slaying the High School Game.”
an The m
o started wh it
all.. .
Best Places to Study
Live out your very own Dead Poets Society and head over to Mr. Howell’s secret philosophy lair! Conveniently located in the underground bunker next to the band hall, the lair gives you the unique experience of being able to cram for your AP Bio exam under dim lighting as Mr. Howell quietly discusses Foucault’s Treachery of Images with students around you. The Cold War-era nostalgia mixed with a faint smell of mildew make the bunker a calming, yet productive study spot. If you prefer a more energetic environment, hit up the secret teacher rave lounge. That’s right, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide didn’t lie to you—there IS a secret teacher rave lounge! All those times you thought you heard the thumping bass of an EDM song? Check the silver hall! You can fist bump to your favorite songs in S121 while receiving helpful review tips from Mrs. Beskenis on the upcoming Lang vocab quiz. If the aforementioned are too crowded, head up to the pool on the third floor—it’s open exclusively to underclassmen next year!
Navigating the Halls
The most important thing to do when it comes to navigating the cavernous halls of McLean High School is to practice your power stance. You don’t want to get lost in the mix in the blue hall, so I suggest you charge through at a swift pace with your arms outstretched while yelling obscenities for maximum efficiency.
Lunch Spots
The best places to eat are where you feel safe and welcome to enjoy whatever Mom packed this morning. Lucky for you guys, we have insider info that Mr. Vivacqua is absolutely stoked when you pull out some pungent pad thai in the middle of third period. So kick back, relax and chow down on those noodles free of judgment as you head into 4th quarter FLE.
School Spirit
To be a true Highlander, you’ve got to bleed the red and silver. This was hard for me my first couple years, but as time went on, I learned that I must live by the team and die by the team to get the full high school experience. Make sure to show up in a full replica of the Angus costume to every home game of every sport. (Yes, even spring sports. Sure, you may pass out from overheating, but it’s the price you pay to support the boys on the field.) Other ideas: Frame Langley kids for white collar crimes! Change your Tinder anthem to the Highlander Rumble! When you get to the point where you think any sensible person would stop, keep going.
College Applications
It is with heavy heart that I include a section about college applications, but unfortunately, they are a fact of life for most McLean students. For these, I suggest you wing it with reckless abandon. Wait until Oct. 31 to crank out a poorly written essay about how being a Big Mac changed your life before the early decision deadline strikes at midnight. (Pro tip: Make sure to mention that, in a way, the freshmen helped you more than you ever helped them.) After you stay up into the wee hours of the night to do this, roll up 30 minutes late to first period enviro and tell Mrs. Hicks that the traffic was really bad. She will definitely believe you and the 30 other kids standing right behind you with the same excuse. It’s practically foolproof!
Saying Goodbye
At the end of the day, it’s important to realize that high school is what you make of it. Some of us ruled the school, while others of us just counted down the days until we could get out of this sorry town and move to the big city. However, despite these differences, we all got through it. To celebrate this feat and to truly leave your mark on McLean, stage a sentimental John Green moment for you and your friends to gather on the bleachers and reflect on your experiences one last time. Play a wistful Sarah McLachlan tune in the background and embark on rambling monologues about regrets, memories and what the future holds. Cry openly as elderly members of the community run around the track and pretend not to hear! Embrace the bittersweet and promise to each other to not go gentle into the future. JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 19
Oscars: Class of 2018 edition
What films were notable during our high school career?
20 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Most Behind the Scenes Work: Dunkirk
Most Underrated Film: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Most Incompetent Film: Truth or Dare
Universal
Warner Bros.
Most Overrated Film: Blade Runner 2049
Best Sequel:
Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation
Disney
Aniplex
Worst Sequel:
Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale
Most Hype Film: Avengers: Infinity War
Warner Bros.
Most Terrifying Film: 10 Cloverfield Lane
Paramount
Most Unique Idea: Annihilation
Disney
Paramount
Paramount
|JUSTIN KIM A&E EDITOR|
Page design by Justin Kim
Highlander athletes take next step
SOCCER James Bradley
Christopher Schram
BASEBALL
Julia Longo
Max Groppe
Pitcher
Pitcher
Emory University
University of Pennsylvania
College of William & Mary Defender
SOFTBALL Rachel Remer
University of Mary Washington Shortstop
La Salle University
Grant Williams
Randolph-Macon College Catcher
Defender
Elizabeth Zhou Wellesley College Defender
Kimberly Zhou Amherst College
SWIM & DIVE
Defender
Sinead Eksteen
LACROSSE Paulina DeAnda
University of Notre Dame
Coastal Carolina University
Sam Gollob
Laura Musikanth
Defender
Free
Williams College
TENNIS
Maya Donkor Texas A&M-Kingsville
TRACK & FIELD
Gannon University
Breaststroke & IM
Goalie
Cassidy Slavik
Ben Mennitt
DePauw University
East Carolina University
Butterfly & Free
Midfield
FOOTBALL
Olivia Kloster
Ammar Abdelghany
Bryan Chung
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College
Washington and Lee
Carter Govan
Adam Taylor
Washington and Lee
Salisbury University
Shot Put
Offensive Guard
Slotback
Page design by Julia McElligott & Maren Kranking
Linebacker
Linebacker
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 21
LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY Aidan Harley
Stella Morris
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE Dana Collings
MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY Laylah Wideman
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Akbota Ablyazova Christopher Aciego Faris Alhumoudi Fawaz Alhumoudi Lama Al Rajih Adam Ardito Sabine Awad Al-Baraa Bashumeel Matthew Benson Temujin Bullock Cameron Byrd James Carroll Seda Demir Amir Dominguez Karima Fillali
Andrew Graf Camila Loayza Cury Irissa Maneechai Samantha Manuel Barrera Isabel Marques Vanessa Mendoza Arshia Panahi Artem Protsenko James Robles Mariela Santos-Turcios Riley Smith Tin Vo Mason Williams Stanley Wu
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Amanda Chesley Shabrina Islam
Leela Abrishami Maddy Anderson Jett Bisset Anna Brower Carolyn Brown-Kaiser Caroline Brunner Amanda Coughlin Neel Dagar Claire Dozier Camille Duffy Christine Dzeidzic Samara Elahi Anna Faulks Carson Flickinger Jessie Friedman Piper Gaudet Duncan Green Helena Hatanpaa
Katya Jonkers Anna Karl Katherine Kelleher Zeeshan Khaliq Bradley Kim Cliff Lin Mary-Kate Mahoney Keerthi Medicherla Cate Pearce Charlotte Roberts Sidnea Strelser Zita Venetianer Nithin Vijayakumar Serena Wood Richard Yu Jacob Zacks Rachael Zhang
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY Rohit Arur Erica Buday Richard Hart Taylor Jackowski Alexander Kang Connor Kohout Hanna Lee Alexa Lushetsky Kaela Moskowitz
Sina Naeemi Trisha Nguyen James Roberton Laith Samamreh Seulgi Smith Daria Sweet Ethan Williams Eric Yu
VIRGINIA TECH Samantha Taherian
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
Brooke Barlow Mikaley Bolden Romy Boortalary Michael Deitch Anna Gamboa
Eliana Hall Natalie Ruffner Smritee Thapa Taylan Tunckanat Andy Wu
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
Reis Cleary
RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE Grant Williams
ROANOKE COLLEGE Alana Bloomquist
UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON Rajshri Dakshinamoorthy Marissa Fedora
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Michael Redding Rachel Remer
Nicholas Campbell Claudia Distinto
Anno Kong
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY Kooseung Bryan Chung Carter Govan
Christina Savory
CLASS OF 2018
Special thanks to Laura Venos Page design by Bryan Chung, Josh Leong & Siddarth Shankar
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 23
VIRGINIA Schools in
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY Christopher Clancy Patrick DeMatties William Erdahl Dominik Firlej Benett Hunter
Benjamin Manon Will Poncy Grace Spencer Annie Williams
Bahria University
University of Toronto
McMaster University
McGill University
Maryum Usmani Alaanah Bhanji
Univ. of Edinburgh
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY Rustin Abedi Sheza Baig Sarah Bonforte James Bradley Elena Chun Abby Comey David Gartner Emily Lachow
Kyoko Minamino Nico Olmedo Shriansh Singh Solene Sossah Aaron Stone Tammy Yin Peiya Zeng
Jiahong Lin Jaren Moore Luis Quiroga Khyati Sharma Jacobo Vasquez Alexander Wahid Kanchan Yadav Dominick Zurawski
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE
Olivia Kloster
22 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Reece Gerdes Jane Lee
American Univ. of Paris
Universidad Dorados
University of Oslo
Jackson Vann
Perla Romero-Camargo Louise Iversen Vilde Iversen
Universidad San Francisco de Quito Paola Chiriboga Daniela Montalvo Annie Lu
Pragya Dhungana Bianca Dinu Chigozie Erondu Dev Ghosh Musa Haji Sarah Hashem Aavar Khatiwoda Jennie Korb Andrew Lacaden
Camille Richter
Kylan Gresenz Henry Stockton
University of Oxford
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Ammar Abdelghany
INTERNATIONAL/OTHER PLANS
Dalhousie University Dylan Phipps
Pre-Professional Dance Program Kathleen Tiernan
Swedish Army
Niklas Stefansson
Gap Year
Emily Adams
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY Fares Accad Cole Adams Thub Amdo Natalie Cole William Commins Cayla Davis Yanni Farmakides Luke Fisher Sofiya Gorban Haru Kato Justin Lee
Aadesh Malla Lauren Palombi Isabella Proietti Isabel Romov Sean Senft Jessie Seppi Nate Shin Ed Walters Julia Williamson Michelle Wong Ryan Woody
MISSISSIPPI Mississippi State Univ. Ruby Titus University of Mississippi Ben Mitzelfeld Katherine Travis
MISSOURI Washington University in St. Louis Hannah Alexander Owen Ricketts
NEW YORK Cooper Union Seyun Kim Byungjun Yoon Cornell University Min Lee Thomas Nappi Ithaca College Alejandro Galdo
OHIO
Case Western Reserve Univ. Andrew Chou Jakob Wegmueller
RHODE ISLAND
VERMONT
Oberlin College Havi Carrillo-Klein
Johnson & Wales University William Britton
University of Vermont Nicole Ross
Ohio State University James Beahn Univ. of Northwestern Ohio Lucas Huff Tristan Walia
OREGON Lewis & Clark College Sydney Parker
PENNSYLVANIA Bucknell University Calvin Zug
Dickinson College Victoria Gralla
New York University Josh Leong
Gannon University Laura Musikanth
Pratt Institute Jiayi Zheng
Gettysburg College Annie Przypyszny
Syracuse University Daniel Davis Kimberley Lebowitz Erin Moloney Shannon Moloney
La Salle University Chris Schram
NORTH CAROLINA Davidson College Andre Iosso Duke University Shinbe Choi Seijung Kim East Carolina University Cassidy Slavik
(cont.)
Miami University Ryan Wilcox
Manhattan School of Music Minseon Kim
Vassar College Eli Wassertzug
UTAH University of Utah Jessica Snyder
Carnegie Mellon University Alex Bellomo Caroline Song
U.S. Military Academy Marshall Pratt
(cont.)
Univ. of Pittsburgh, Bradford Yazan Aloul
Manhattan College Maria Meara
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Andrew Nolan
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania State University Connor Bowers Hyun Kang Alexandra Papakonstantinou Shreya Ramesh Brett Richardson Samantha Simon Ali Tanju
SOUTH CAROLINA Clemson University Ted Miller Coastal Carolina University Paulina DeAnda College of Charleston Dylan Laufman Spencer Lukehart University of South Carolina Quinlen Brown Ryan Dahlseid Reagan Lumme Maddie McArthur Grace Roomian Ben Weinstein Connor Westermann
TENNESSEE University of Tennessee Jack Reed Caitlin Renstrom Eric Stein Vanderbilt University Jake Keating
TEXAS
WASHINGTON University of Washington Devin English
WASHINGTON, DC
American University Laura Belvedere Rose Harris Ryan Murn Shelby Rose
Catholic University of America Mairin Fallon Georgetown University Yitong Sun Jack Wilkerson George Washington University Negeena Azad Jack Turley Helen Yablonski
WEST VIRGINIA Potomac State College Max Glick West Virginia Wesleyan College Spencer Combs
Texas A&M, Kingsville Maya Donkor
WISCONSIN
Texas Christian University Lorelei Legg
University of Wisconsin Katherine Detter Shizhen He
Texas State University Michael May
Swarthmore College Sidhika Tripathee
University of Texas Emma Zahniser
Temple University Carmen Beadie
University of Texas, El Paso Heidi Weiss
University of Pennsylvania Julia Longo
UTAH
University of Pittsburgh Khaled Abdelatey Madeleine Detwiler Zoe Goldberg Julia Koehl Ethan Steel Isabella Whitney
Brigham Young University Olivia Alvarez Mia Barringer Avery Dahl Anna Glenn Emma Higbee Jackson Payne Sophie Richards
WYOMING Central Wyoming College Jayne Johnston
JUNE | SENIOR EDITION | 25
Schools in the
ALABAMA
CONNECTICUT
ILLINOIS
MARYLAND
Auburn University Sydney Grose
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Addie Dietrich
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Kelly Kim
Salisbury University Adam Taylor
Wesleyan University Jillian Pincus
University of Illinois James Gao Sungmin Kang Gyeongjae Kim
ARIZONA
Arizona State University Ross Oliver University of Arizona Nadien Gad
ARKANSAS Harding University Kylie Coffey
CALIFORNIA Loyola Marymount Univ. Abeer Alsadhan University of California, Berkeley Gunhee Chae Riya Master University of California, Los Angeles June Chang Eunjae Chung Royce Kang Tommy Schilder Ben Sebastian University of California, San Diego Colin Edson Alexander Hollis Kyle Murray Sara Shobeiri
COLORADO University of Colorado Lola Amaya Nicolas Garzione Shiraz Kunzel Hannah Marvin Maggie Perry Bennett Verderame Colorado School of Mines Kevin Juneau Jonathan Popova-Jones Linus Stroik
24 | SENIOR EDITION | JUNE
Yale University Siddarth Shankar Philena Sun Austin Zhang
University of Illinois, Chicago Andrew Dorr
DELAWARE
INDIANA
University of Delaware Anna Sargent Miles Simpson
DePauw University Ben Mennitt
FLORIDA Florida State University Gary Ragsdale University of Central Florida Liberty Henson University of Florida Grace Davis Anna Kate Womack University of Miami Nick Basham Ryan Hanusik Conor Zeya
GEORGIA
Indiana University Julianne Akard Max Brooks Evelyn Lee Haley Rose Purdue University Shelby Johnson John Putziger Emmanuel Steiner Robles
MASSACHUSETTS Amherst College Kimberly Zhou Boston College Daniel Kim Boston University Lanfei Li Julia Luigs Brandeis University Nathan Vollertsen
IOWA
Stonehill College Ian Anderson
Iowa State University Alexander Vazquez
Tufts University Daniel Meakem
KENTUCKY
University of Massachusetts Yasmin Berrada Hannah Gold
Georgia Institute of Technology Alan Kohler Nina Opem
University of Kentucky Katherine Gamble
Brigham Young University, Idaho Daniel Carr Crawford Freeman
University of Maryland Chin-Yun Kuei Jake Parker Anu Sangraula Emily Yang
Harvard University Nour Khachemoune
Berea College Gabriela Kohlmayer
IDAHO
St. John’s College Ava Cusey
University of Notre Dame Sinead Eksteen
Emory University Max Groppe
Spelman College Zoe Joyner
(cont.)
MAINE Bowdoin College Ridhika Tripathee
MARYLAND Johns Hopkins University Alexa Fermin Justin Kim
Wellesley College Elizabeth Zhou Williams College Sam Gollob
MICHIGAN College for Creative Studies Daniel Heilbron Michigan State University Andrew Lopez